Railway-crossing



(No Model.) v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. S. J.- AUSTIN.

RAILWAY CROSSING.

No. 540,571. Patented June- 4, 1895. E3717 Ail 662i: 1/? 7 a i011;

I fi J/Zd)? Jami/)2 Ens co. worn-undo. WASHXNGTGN, n. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

. S. J. AUSTIN.

RAILWAY CROSSING.

No. 540,571. Patented June 4, 1895.

5442564951 6 I I I ar/a $628 6??? UNITED STATES ATENT Prion.

STEPHEN J. AUSTIN, OF TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA.

RAILWAY-CROSSING. 7

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 540,571, dated June 4,1895.

Application filed March 15 1895. Serial No. 541,876- (No model.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STEPHEN J. AUSTIN, residing at Terre Haute, in thecounty of Vigo, State of Indiana, have invented a certain new 7 anduseful Improvement in Railway-Crossings, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this specification.

This invention relates to a means for moving cross tracks to admit ofthe passing of a train or trains on the main track without injury to therails or jolting or jarring of the train, and it pertains to that classof railway crossings, in which two lines crossing at any angle, has oneof said lines fixed and the other adapted to be lowered when displacedand thrown out of line, and the object of the invention is to provide ameans for lowering the pivoted rail sections when they are thrown out ofline, so that said pivoted sections are below the level of the mainline, thus allowing for the unobstructed passage of the train over thesaid main line. This object I attain by use of the device illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which Figure I is a top view showing thepivoted sections closed to allow the passing of a train thereover. Fig.11 is a side elevation showing the pivoted section closed. Fig. III is atop view showing the pivoted sections open to allow the passing of atrain over the main track. Fig. IV is a detail cross-section through theline I II of Fig. I, showing the pivoted rail when in position shown inFig. I. Fig. V is a detail cross-section through the line IV V of Fig.III, showing the pivoted rail when in the position shown in Fig. III.

The same numbers refer to the same or similar parts throughout theseveral figures.

1. 1. represent the rails of the unbroken track, mounted upon andsecured to sleepers in the usual manner.

2. 2. are sections of rails adapted to be brought coincident with thecross line rails 2'. 2. and thus provide a continuous track for saidcross line.

3 represents pivot pins about which the rail sections 2 oscillate.

1 is a barpivotally connected with two branch bars 4:. 4'. which are inturn pivotally connected with one of the rail sections 2. This bar 4 isadaptedto be moved either by hand or by the action of a passing train,and its motion turns the rail section 2 about its pivot 3. The twosections 2. 2. are connected at the joints 11 by means of the bars 10,so that the -motion of one is simultaneously imparted to the other.

5 represents projecting cams constructed on an incline as shown, andsecurely fastened to rail sections 2 by means of bolts or rivets at 5'.These inclined cams 5 are inclined to lower the rail sections 2 as theyare turned by means of lever 4, and brought out of coincidence withrails 2.

9 represents braces connecting main rails 1. 1. and in line with rails2'. 2'. Pivot 3 is attached thereto; The pivot 3 is adapted to ride upand down in its socket in braces 9. Coincident with cams 5 on saidbraces 9 are journal boxes '12, provided with a roller 6. The out side 7of the'box 12 is higher than the inside 8, and is adapted to-have thecams 5 rest upon it when the movable sections 2 are closed.

The rollers 6 and the supporting sides 7 are constructed to just theheight of the rails 1. 1. so that when the rail sections 2. 2. are inposition, shown in Figs.I and II said sections 2. 2. rest upon the topof rails 1. 1'. places the cross track in the proper position for atrain to pass unobstructed thereover.

If it is desired to open the main track the rail sections 2. 2. areswung around by means of the mechanism already described. As they areturned the pivot pin 3 dropsin its socket, and the cams 5 beinginclined, lower the rail sections to the amount of their said incline,(Fig. V.) g

It will be readily seen that my device provides a means of allowing'atrain to pass over unobstructed and continuous tracks, no matter whichset is used. The cutting away at the place of intersection of a portionof the rail to allow for the flange on the wheels of the train passingover the other pair of rails is avoided. The train is thus allowed tocross without the usual jarring and jolting. Another advantage possessedby my device is that all the parts are above the groundlevel, andconsequently I avoid the bad results which follow from the usual methodof placing parts of the crossing underground.

I claim as my invention 1. In an improved railway crossing, rail sec-This.

I l I l l unbroken and smooth rail in line with said pivoted sections, ameans of turning said sections about their pivots, inclined cams securedto said sections and rollers carried in boxes 12 adapted to bear saidcams, whereby the rail sections are lowered when turned out of line,substantially as described.

STEPHEN J. AUSTIN.

In presence of W. FINLEY, STANLEY STONER.

